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Thursday, July 3, 2014

6 Drinks that Shocked Me on the Road

Guest Post by Agness WalewinderWhile visiting various countries across
Asia and Europe, I stumbled upon some drinks that have absolutely surprised or
shocked me. Their look and taste were something new to me. Although some of
them I really loved, most of them were just way too disgusting and I would
never try them again.

China:
Baijiu

It's commonly known as white wine, but
it's absolutely disgusting. Baijiu is a very strong distilled spirit that is more than 50% alcohol. Baijiu is closer to vodka in strength and mouth-feel. You
should be extremely careful when tasting it - one baijiu shot can knock you
down!Chinese often drink baijiu when celebrating big events and having a business lunch or dinner.

Vietnam
and Cambodia: Snake Wine

I've not tried it, but Cez did a few
times. In touristy areas of Cambodia the content of the bottle looks like a fighting ground between snakes and scorpions. However, more traditional
versions are more common and usually consumed by the locals in belief that it
makes men more potent (sexually). One small glass of snake wine tastes okay, but if you
try and drink too much you may start to feel that the content of the bottle
contains more than just liquid.

Belgium:
Grimbergen Beer

Although I don't drink alcohol very
often, there was one beer I really enjoyed when in Brussels - the Grimbergen
beer. It has a dark ruby red color, a lovely metallic caramel smell and tastes a
lot like toffee, some roasted bitter malt and some black cherry and dark
fruits. The mouthfeel was amazing - somewhere between fizzy and airy. I highly
recommend it to everyone visiting Belgium.

Macau:
Red Beans and Agar-Agar Jelly Drink

When in Macau, we ordered a very
refreshing and sweet iced coconut juice with red beans and agar-agar jelly in
one of the local restaurants. It was simply heaven in our mouths, although the
ingredients do not sound very yummy.

Crete:
Greek Frappe

Greek frappe tasted a lot like
Vietnamese coffee to me, but there was much less sugar and strength in it. It
was pretty strong, extremely thick and creamy and so refreshing. Perfect for a
sunny day in Rethymno. Apart from frappe and cold drinks, Greece has also a
great coffee. If you are a coffee lover like me, who is seeking unique coffee experiences from around the world,
make sure to try one in Crete.

Tibet:
Butter Tea

Tibet welcomed us with one of the
strangest teas we have ever drunk. It contains salt and butter, which takes a
while to get used to, but it's very creamy and gives you a boost of energy in
the morning. The traditional butter tea in Tibet is light reddish white and has
a thick buttery surface.

Tibetans drink their tea throughout the
day. They pour boiled tea into a long cylindrical churn along with salt and yak
butter and mix it for a few seconds so it's ready to be served in a small
glass. It was a great experience for us to see how locals make it.

What was the most delicious and disgusting drink you
had on the road?

Meet eTramping crew - Agness and Cez – best friends and travel companions from Poland. These two are sharing their budget travel tips on how to travel the world with $25 in your pocket. Since 2011, they have been travelling the world while teaching English in different Asian countries such as China, Thailand or Cambodia. They are both photography passionate obsessed with Chinese cuisine and culture.

Katherine Belarmino has been traveling for over ten years on a quest to see as much of the world as possible, experience new cultures, and sample other cuisines and libations. She also writes the travel blog Travel the World, which journals her world travels with her husband Romeo and seeks to encourage others to take the time to travel.

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Steve Grams is a father of two who has spent his married life traveling to the world's beer capitals. He aims to support local beverage makers and bring some extra attention to these communities' first craftsmen.

Katherine Belarmino has been traveling the world for over 10 years with her husband. She loves to experience as much as she can in every destination, including the local beers, wines, and cocktails. She also writes the travel blog Travel the World.